The average occupancy rate per room in the Algarve’s hotels was 89.2% in September, 1.9% up on last year and the highest in 17 years, according to the provisional monthly data released today by the Algarve’s hoteliers’ association.
More relevant was the increase in cash taken, up 7.2% during the month as businesses 'adjust supply with demand' and put prices up.
The British, affected by a low sterling-to-euro exchange rate and possibly some cases of Brexit indecision, declined 2.3% but this was made up for by the Germans who spent 17.7% more nights in the Algarve's hotels than last year.
Also on the rise were tourists from Poland, Belgium, Ireland, France, Sweden, Belgium, Denmark and Italy.
The small decline in the percentage of British tourists was nothing in comparison to Portuguese holidaymakers whose percentage of the number of overnights fell by 7.6%.
By geographical areas, the highest increases occurred in the areas of Monte Gordo-VRSA (+ 6.2%), Albufeira (+ 3.7%) and Carvoeiro-Armação de Pêra (+ 3.0%).
The cancellation of many Ryanair flights and this week’s failure of Monarch Airlines will affect October’s British intake to the Algarve and it remains to be seen if the gap in the market will be filled by other Europeans.
None of these figures include those staying with friends, staying in airbnb properties, staying in their own properties, staying in non-'hotel association' properties, motorcaravanners, yachties and campers.